What You Can (and Can’t) Put in a Skip

What Is & Isn't Allowed in a Skip

Skips are an easy, affordable way to deal with substantial waste from home renovations, garden makeovers and general household waste.

Choosing a reputable skip hire company like Speedy will be your first step in ensuring your waste is appropriately disposed of. But as the skip user, it is really important to know what you can and can’t put in there.

HIRE A SKIP

Any mistakes may mean the skip is not collected, you incur additional charges, or the skip is returned to you for a future collection after you have remedied the issue. All of these consequences are expensive and time-consuming.

It is a common belief that skips can hold anything and everything, which is false. This is why it is also important to cover a skip when it is unmonitored, such as overnight, to prevent the general public from using it as a bin.

Don't hesitate to contact Speedy Skip Hire today on 0345 600 3546 to enquire about hiring a skip. We will guide you on the exact size and use you require, as well as if you need a permit.

What You Can Put in a Skip

What You Can't Put in a Skip

General household waste Food waste in secured bags Cardboard and paper: cardboard boxes, newspapers, magazines, packaging Plastics (non-hazardous): plastic containers, packaging trays, plastic household items Furniture (non-electrical): tables, chairs, wardrobes, wooden bed frames Carpets and underlay Wood and timber Metal (non-electrical): metal shelving, radiators, aluminium frames, pipes Bricks, rubble and hardcore Tiles and ceramics Old bathroom and kitchen fittings (non-electrical) Garden waste (green waste): grass cuttings, branches, leaves Empty, clean paint tins Non-contaminated insulation: loft insulation, mineral wool Concrete blocks

Electrical appliances: fridges, freezers, TVs, washing machines Batteries (all types): AA and AAA batteries, lithium batteries Gas cylinders: propane bottles, butane canisters, camping gas Tyres Mattresses Wet or liquid paint Solvents, fuels and oils: petrol, diesel, engine oil, white spirit Hazardous chemicals: cleaning chemicals, industrial chemicals, corrosive substances, pesticides Plasterboard (in mixed skips): drywall sheets, gypsum boards, plasterboard offcuts Asbestos Clinical or medical waste: needles, sharps, medical dressings Artificial grass  Fluorescent tubes and light bulbs Fire extinguishers Smoke alarms Vapes and e-cigarettes  Aerosol cans: spray paint cans, deodorant sprays, cleaning sprays Explosives or ammunition Contaminated insulation

What you can put in a skip

You may be required to hire a dedicated skip if you dispose of certain items, such as garden waste, wood or building rubble. You should also double-check with your skip hire company what you can put in their individual skips; below is not an exhaustive list.

However, in general, you can put the following in a skip:

• Food waste and packaging
• Domestic household waste
• Green garden waste
• Old furnishings
• Carpet and other upholstery
• Wood
• Empty, clean paint tins
• Plastic
• Metal
• Wood
• Bricks and other building rubble
• Tiles and ceramic
• Old bathroom and kitchen fittings

Always ensure you’re clear on what you can put in your specific hired skip. Ask the skip hire provider if there is anything to avoid, which will ensure you aren’t fined or charged extra on collection. If your skip is overflowing, think about how you could maybe recycle some items for free.

While filling your skips, always keep safety in mind. Follow these tips to fill your skip efficiently:

• Place heavy waste and chunky items at the bottom of the skips and lighter items on top
• Bulky items like furniture and cardboard should be broken down into small pieces for more space
• Never overfill the skip and keep the waste distributed evenly
• Sharp items and edges should be covered for safety
• Make sure all materials are cool down and have no risk of creating fires
• Keep children and pets away from the skip
• Keep track of any damage and regularly checkup and report them to your skip provider

What you can’t put in a skip

Below is a list of items prohibited in a skip hired from Speedy Partnered Services. If in doubt, always ask your chosen carrier about the limitations.

Appliances and Electrical Items

Large electrical appliances, such as ovens, washing machines, and fridge freezers, often have to be stripped down, with each part recycled or disposed of separately. The same applies to electricals, such as TVs and computers, and small appliances, like microwaves.

Some components of appliances can be hazardous to people, the planet and property. They cannot be dealt with at regular recycling centres and should not end up on a landfill site due to environmental damage.

Appliances are often large and heavy, making them dangerous to transport within a skip. Gas appliances, such as cookers, are occasionally exceptions to these rules but always ask first.

Tyres

Skip-hire firms will usually find tyres too difficult to deal with. You should go through a dedicated tyre collection or recycling firm that can deal with them appropriately. If you’re getting your tyres replaced through a local garage, they should be able to dispose of the old ones on your behalf.

They will go through a de-pollution process to remove any oil or dirt and then be fed into a shredder. The rubber can be recycled and turned into useful materials for construction, AstroTurf, or road surfaces.

Talking of AstroTurf, this is another material which cannot be put in a skip. The rubber content is the reason. Some skip companies will collect it if you inform them, but they will charge an additional fee.

Batteries

They’re often small, so you may think that throwing a battery into a skip doesn’t have much of an impact. However, batteries can be full of harmful chemicals. There are dedicated recycling points for batteries at local disposal centres, and supermarkets often have recycling points too.

Some parts can be used to manufacture plastics and other materials, and some can be turned back into future batteries.

Paints, fuel, and solvents

Skip-hire companies do not commonly have the correct certifications and licenses to dispose of liquid-based solvents. It is classed as hazardous waste.

The containers for these solutions can sometimes be added to a skip, but they need to be empty and clean, so they are often dealt with alongside the contents. Look for your nearest licensed disposal service, which may be council-run.

However, some skip hire companies can provide a dedicated hazardous waste skip. Speedy has enclosed skips in a range of sizes from 6 to 16 yards, which can be used to dispose of hazardous or sensitive waste.

Gas cylinders

The contents of a gas cylinder are potentially incredibly dangerous. Skip-hire companies are not experienced in dealing with gas and other hazardous substances.

Instead, please return it to a store where it can be reused or refilled. Some companies can recycle container material.

Plasterboard

Perhaps surprisingly, plasterboard gives off colourless yet harmful gases. When mixed with other items, this will also cause contamination. Instead, you need to find a dedicated plasterboard recycling plant locally.

Mattresses

Mattresses are not permitted in skips because they are cumbersome, heavy, and bulky. In most cases, they will exceed the fill line of a regular household skip, making them dangerous to carry and transport.

Mattresses are, unfortunately, one of the most fly-tipped products in the UK. However, some companies will collect old mattresses on your behalf before stripping them down and recycling components.

Some charities will also take donations of mattresses, such as shelters if they are in good condition. They will be steam cleaned and checked before use.

Clinical waste

While unlikely you will have any to dispose of; it is likely no surprise you cannot put clinical waste (such as needles and other sharp items) into a skip.

It is incredibly dangerous for anyone handling the waste once at the recycling centre or landfill. It is good to ensure your skip is covered when not monitored; you do not want to incur any additional charges for somebody else’s mistake.

Alternative Disposal Options

For prohibited items, you must find a safe way to dispose of them. If you are in doubt, contact our expert for more advice and information.

• Household Waste Recycling Centres or local recycling points for electrical items, batteries, light bulbs, wet paint, solvents, fuels, oils, garden chemicals, plasterboard, and artificial grass. Check your council's website for the nearest recycling centre.
• Retailer take-back scheme for appliances, fridges, washing machines, TVs, and vape devices.
• Use bulky waste collection services for large furniture items. Find and arrange a collection from your local council. 
• For hazardous waste, store it safely and separately, and use authorised waste carriers and licensed facilities for disposal.
• NHS, pharmacies and council clinical waste services for medical waste

Penalties for Putting Prohibited Items in a Skip

A skip company reserves the right to refuse collection if prohibited items are in the skip. Additional charges can be applied for dealing with illegitimate items, including removal, disposal or special handling. 

In addition, local authorities can issue fines if waste is disposed of incorrectly. For serious offences with hazardous waste, it can lead to prosecution with severe penalties under the Waste Offences by the UK Government. Any cost of cleaning and repairing damages will be under your responsibility. 

It's not only about cost. Inappropriate disposal of these items can pose a serious threat to your safety. To avoid penalties, always check carefully what you can put in a skip and follow strict rules to handle waste safely. Contact the skip provider for more information.

Why must I stick to the correct waste type when hiring a skip?

As mentioned above, hazardous waste can be incredibly dangerous to people, the planet and property. This includes all of the above products that need to be avoided, as well as anything else with hazard warning labels (such as anything highly flammable).

They need to be dealt with by trained professionals in a controlled manner. NEVER try to disguise prohibited items in a skip; this could be highly dangerous, and you will be fined upon discovery.

But sticking to the correct waste type is also better for the planet and your purse. If anything can be recycled, such as clean wood, it means one less thing in a landfill. Taking this wood to a dedicated recycling plant, as opposed to taking it to a landfill in a general waste skip, will also be much cheaper for the carrier and the customer.

So, always hire the correct skip for our waste type, and never put anything in there which doesn’t belong.